As a fan of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged who cultivates the opinion of the occasional Randian I rarely come across, I conclude that real fans of Rand’s Objectivist philosophy and truly “get” her magnum opus border on genius level intelligence. It takes this kind of intelligence to understand it, to read its 1,000-plus pages, and realize what in fact she is telling the world.

This analyis coalesced after seeing the movie version. I liked it. So did my friend Jason, a huge Randian. Two intelligent people I saw the film with, however, were utterly confused. They needed an explanation, which did no good.

Reviews have excoriated it, as the novel was criticized, but who cares? One called it like reading Investor’s Business Daily. It in fact was dutiful to Rand, albeit taking a big chance by dividing itself into parts. We only got part one, with parts two and three, I hope/suppose, slated for the next couple of years. This was not a way to capture a film audience. It should have been a mini-series. We never see John Galt other than as a shadowy figure.

It was not a low rent picture. The movie captures the wide-open Colorado spaces of the expanding Taggart railroad. The acting is fine, although the performers are all unknowns. It details, more or less, what the world will look like if Barack Obama is allowed to stay in office absent the efforts by Republicans to stop Socialism.

But the theme of smart, creative people (think a modern Bill Gates or Donald Trump) going on strike, taking their money, businesses and entrepreneurial spirit with them, like a recalcitrant kid taking his ball and going home, is something that only Randians undserstand. Others look at me quizzically when I try to explain it. Ultimately, the film will not be a big hit for this reason. Atlas Shrugged is like inside trading, available only to those club members worthy of understanding it. What more can I say?